Roadtrips

Charlie Kohlhase -- one of the most dependable jazz guys in town, tough, funny, tuneful -- invites legendary avant-garder John Tchicai -- a Danish saxophonist who cut his teeth with Archie Shepp, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, and the rest of the '60s avant gang -- to the area for a bunch of gigs this week. Kohlhase's Quintet -- which includes pianist Dave Bryant, bassist John Turner, and drummer Harvey Wirht -- will back up Tchicai in preparation for an album date. They'll start out on December 1 at the Regattabar (617-661-5000) in Cambridge, and then make the rounds: December 3 at the Vermont Jazz Center (802-254-9088) in Brattleboro, December 4 at the Amherst Unitarian Meeting House (413-584-9592), and December 5 at the Free Street Taverna (207-828-1310) in Portland, Maine.

More from the Beastie Boys' favorite persecuted people when the Mystical Arts of Tibet -- this time brought to you by none other than Richard Gere -- are presented in the flesh at the Somerville Theatre (331-2211) on December 2 and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on December 3. If you're sick of Tibet, sick of Turkey, sick of the whole damn lot of it, then golly gee whiz, go see some hardcore and get over it. New York City's stalwart Sick of It All are at the all-ages St. John's Gym (978-365-9085) in Clinton on November 28 with Ensign, Vision, and Ten Yard Fight. Or else that same night Canuck-punks SNFU are at the Espresso Bar (508-770-1455) in Worcester for an all-ages workout with Libertine, Sticker, Dimwit, and Eight Days Without Cable.

It's radio-festival time of year again, and the WBRU bash takes over both Lupo's and the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on December 2 with swing nuts Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cracker, Marcy Playground, Godsmack, Everlast, Placebo, Eels, and Local H. Some of the same folks will also be in Boston on December 1, including Local H opening for Monster Magnet (we'll say it again: Powertrip -- domestic hard-rock album of the year) at Bill's Bar (617-421-9678). And Cracker open for the Tragically Hip at the Orpheum Theatre (617-423-NEXT) on December 5.

All three Phish shows at the Worcester Centrum (508-755-6800), November 27 through 29, are sold out. Although with the right drugs we imagine you could do some bartering in the parking lot.

-- CC